The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-04


nature of public sensation, it is by means
the first with which he has been threatened. In
quarrel with a Sopoma county paper. in 1879
Rogers's career was limited at. and from what
can be learned. the old has been pretty
freely bled. He is big tall fellow, carrying his
years and experience wonderfully well. lives in
good style, and is father of two children and
step-father to two grown-up daughters. having
married widow. He enjoys the reputation Of
being extremely charitable and most indul-
gent parent.
49,
Bold Talk by kissane's Lawyer.
Special tc the indianapolis Journal.
New YORK, April 3-Mr. J. B. Hart the San
Francisco lawyer, was again interviewed yester-
day. He cooly denied that William Kssane is
at present known in California under the name
of William K. Rogers. If Kissane had been in
Nicaragua, he said, as a member of General
Walkers expedition, he did not know it.
The reporter informed Mr.. Hart that General
Darr had telegraphed to the Chemical Bank
that he had revealed Kissane's identity. Mr..
Hart replied: swell, if that is SO, suit will be
brought against General Darr in the morning
for black-mai
One of the points in the strange history which
received fresh emphasis Yesterday was the origi
nal statement concerning the brother of Kissane,
who is said to be very prominent lawyer resid
ing in San Francisco. While the position which
William Kissane has achieved in California is
said to have been greatly exaggerated by rumor
and imperfect report, that of his brother is de-
clared to be really great deal superior, both in
political and social way. The lawyer is man
to whom other men look up with highest respect,
leader in the best private circles and the pos
SCISSOR of immense wealth Having gained these
| facts in advance, the reporter asked Mr. Hart
concerning them. He did not hesitate to con-
firm the story as above related. although he. of
course, firmly declined to give the name of ks
sanes brother.
Burton's Efforts to Bring Kissane to Justice.
CLEVELAND, April 3-The Leader will, to-
morrow, publish another interesting instalment
of the story of Sidney c. Burton's efforts to run
| down William Kissane. 1t says: Every detail
| of this case has been preserved in manuscript
and is now in the possession of daughter of
| Burton, Mrs. Frances II. Bowman, of No. %
| State Street. The documentary evidence in
cludes the manuscript of book written BY Mr.
! Burton, and voluminous correspondence with
persons interested in the case. A complete
story of kissane's career has never appeared in
| print. In 1851 Mr.. Burton had been established
| for eight years as the proprietor of a leather
and wooden warehouse. He conducted pros
| porous business. Among his correspondents
was Filley & Chaplin. a leather firm
located in Cincinnati. In November. 1851
| Mr.. Burton held their notes for So 800,
and he owned, also. 1900 sheepskins
| which were stored in their warehouse. On Dec.
! 26 1851, he visited Cincinnati and found that the
| firm had made an assignment. They were sue
| ceeded by Lyman Cole, man who was subse-
quently arrested in New York on the charge of
| having been implicated with kissane In the
| bank forgery. When Mr.. Burton asked for pay
| ment of the notes and the return of the sheep
| skins, he was informed that he could 60 to the
| devil, with the rest of the creditors Captain
| Cummings, who commanded the Martha Wash
| ington, intimate friend of Cole, and ks
| sane had an interest the business Mr. Bur-
| ton learned that they had purchased the Martha
| Washington, and were annoyed over the unfa-
| vorable circumstances that prevented her ar
| rival The vessel put in appearance at last,
and steamed out of Cincinnati for New Orleans
| with a heavy invoice, on Jan. g. 1852 1t
was soon developed that the steamer and
| cargo were heavily insured. On Jan. a. 1852
the boat was burned near Helena. Ark. Sixteen
lives were lost. and the value of the property
| was placed at $l25. 900. Early in the same year.
| Mr.. Burton saw Adams Chaplin, in New York,
| epdeavorIng to secure the payment of an insur-
ance policy for $1,000 900. aud, satisfied that the
| burning of the steamer was an act of incendiar-
| ism, he notified the insurance companies and
| they refused to pay the policy. The conspirators
| then sought to win Mr.. Burton over to their
| side. He says in his manuscript that they offered
| him $1,000 in addition to the Filley & Chaplin
| notes if he would assist in securing the payment
of the insurance money. Then Mr. Burton re-
solved to bring the criminals to justice The
| insurance companies refused to assist him. but
he expended $4,000 of his own money
and over $4,000 contributed by friends.
During his pursuit of the gang he trav-
eled 100000 miles. He constantly
bounded. harassed, and even threatened BIZ Kis-
sane and his friends. Few persons are aware
that emissaries of Kssane were instrumental in
causing Mr.. Buttons death. In the summer of
1885 he visited New York. and, as had been the
case throughout his travels in the United States
and Canada. his every movement was watched
by Kissane's agents Early in the fall he became
| the victim of a myStariOuS illness and lad
to his home here. He fingered few months,
but never recovered. dying on Dec. IL, 1866 The
fact was established at the time that Kissane's
friends had succeeded in smuggling a subtle
poison into his food, and his death resulted de-
spite the efforts of the best physicians to save
him. Mr.. Burton wrote, during his travels, a
book giving a detailed account of the case. but
it was never put into print. It was entitled
The Drama of Crime Tragedies in Rea
Life According to the preface the book con
tains. among other things. "A Complete confess
sion by William Kissane.' Among Mrs. Bow.
mans papers several interesting letters.
One, from Gen. Francis J. A. Darr of San
Francisco bears date July L, 1886. General
Darr says
81 am native of Cincinnati and of the old firm of
Gross & Dietrich Our factory candles, soaps and
William Kissane. While preparing the
proofs the other crimes came to light Kissane has
become rich and prominent and his intimates know
nothing of his crimes He born in Ireland emf
grated Canada, and thence Cincinnati in the 4Os
Finally he escaped the halter by the death of your
father by poisoning,
Another letter is from John Eddy, of Provi
dence, r. l., former officer of the Chemica
Bank. 1t bears date November &c, 1886 and il
it Mr. Eddy says:
'Kissane pardoned after your fathers death
He went to Nicaragua and returned during the wal
and held some prominent positions lie now lives il
luxury. John 5. Toppan, of New York. president o
the Marine Insurance Company, took Kissane's con
fession."
| Mrs Bowman has written 70 Raeorder Smv.ba
of New York. letter which will reach its desti
nation Monday, giving some ,nformatio,
about the case.
"Col. c. w Doubleday, of this city. who wa
one of filibuster Walkers adjutants in Mica
i ragua, told reporter last night that he knew
kissane when the latter was acting as commits